Lange has raised $120,000 toward new Braley challenge

Republican Ben Lange is reporting that he's raised $120,000 for a rematch with Democratic 1st District Rep. Bruce Braley.

Lange, who gained national attention in 2010 when he nearly knocked off Braley and held the incumbent to less than 50 percent of the vote, will announce his candidacy in February. The Independence attorney has focused on raising money and meeting voters in all 20 counties in the new district.

“Throughout the exploratory process, I have kept an open mind and listened carefully to the feedback I received,” Lange said. “Our performance last cycle, when no one gave us a shot, has instilled confidence in Iowans that this is a race that can be won.”

Lange, 32, notes that as a first-time candidate with no money, no organization and no name recognition, he lost by just 2 percentage points.

“We have the benefit of certain advantages today that we did not enjoy last time,” he said.

For example, it took Lange until summer of the last election cycle to raise the level of resources his committee has already secured this cycle.

Braley has the advantage with more than $450,000 cash on hand. Still, Lange said he's encouraged “by the level of support that exists in the district for our candidacy.”

“Voters want change and I am prepared to provide it,” he said.

Lange may face competition for the GOP nomination in the new 1st District, which includes Linn and 19 other counties from the Minnesota border and Mississippi River to Marshalltown.

Rod Blum, 56, of Dubuque, a land developer and CEO of Digital Canal Inc., which develops and designs software for homebuilders, is running because government has grown “too big, too intrusive and too costly.”

Cedar Rapids businessman Steve Rathje was interested in the race but ended his campaign, citing the need to spend more time on his business. However, an effort has started to urge him to get back into the race.